kyleslamb
Scout Team
- Joined
- Aug 31, 2011
- Messages
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Very excited to see this game. Been hoping since the brackets were announced this game would hold out. Contrary to the mainstream media, Florida State and Vanderbilt seemed like trendy picks that would fall early. They did.
Now, the real big dogs are out of their cages.
First, let me say how impressed I was by Syracuse this evening. I thought Wisconsin did a nice job getting over screens, but the ability to penetrate single-handedly won the game for the Orange. Specifically, the job by Fair, Waiters and Jardine off the bounce overcame Wisconsin's surreal barrage of 3-point shooting. That Wisconsin team doesn't usually shoot like that, but that's the type of game they play. It's always a chore to beat them. That Syracuse withstood that effort was impressive.
Saturday will be an interesting dichotomy. Ohio State is one of the best, sound man defenses in the country -- if not the best. They don't block shots like Kentucky, but they have quick feet, active hands and will really get in your grill defensively. There will be some unbelievable match-ups on both sides of the ball with Craft-Jardine, Sullinger-Christmas, Buford-Waiters, etc. Ohio State will have its work cut out for it because of the screens on the wing, and must cut off penetration before needing to help off. That's what Wisconsin got in trouble with tonight, as the help came too late and too deep.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State moves the ball really well against a zone as we saw tonight in the first half against Cincinnati. I get why Mick Cronin played it, but I think he did Ohio State a favor staying in the zone for the entire half. The Buckeyes are capable of beating a zone, but obviously Syracuse' zone is much longer and more active and will play higher on the perimeter. OSU's biggest key is to get Thomas in the middle of the FT line extended and let him work inside-out.
Very excited, as I said. I think Syracuse is showing it's still an offensive force without Melo. Perhaps the defense is a bit more suspect without him in a game like this, but it will be a battle to the finish.
Now, the real big dogs are out of their cages.
First, let me say how impressed I was by Syracuse this evening. I thought Wisconsin did a nice job getting over screens, but the ability to penetrate single-handedly won the game for the Orange. Specifically, the job by Fair, Waiters and Jardine off the bounce overcame Wisconsin's surreal barrage of 3-point shooting. That Wisconsin team doesn't usually shoot like that, but that's the type of game they play. It's always a chore to beat them. That Syracuse withstood that effort was impressive.
Saturday will be an interesting dichotomy. Ohio State is one of the best, sound man defenses in the country -- if not the best. They don't block shots like Kentucky, but they have quick feet, active hands and will really get in your grill defensively. There will be some unbelievable match-ups on both sides of the ball with Craft-Jardine, Sullinger-Christmas, Buford-Waiters, etc. Ohio State will have its work cut out for it because of the screens on the wing, and must cut off penetration before needing to help off. That's what Wisconsin got in trouble with tonight, as the help came too late and too deep.
On the other side of the ball, Ohio State moves the ball really well against a zone as we saw tonight in the first half against Cincinnati. I get why Mick Cronin played it, but I think he did Ohio State a favor staying in the zone for the entire half. The Buckeyes are capable of beating a zone, but obviously Syracuse' zone is much longer and more active and will play higher on the perimeter. OSU's biggest key is to get Thomas in the middle of the FT line extended and let him work inside-out.
Very excited, as I said. I think Syracuse is showing it's still an offensive force without Melo. Perhaps the defense is a bit more suspect without him in a game like this, but it will be a battle to the finish.
